DUNE Page #22

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The worm hears the echo of these steps and rushes towards the source of the noise. Paul and Jessica hear the worm’s noise and run faster.

They reach the rocks, having successfully crossed the land. They are now in front of the dunes covered with brushwood, cactuses and spiny plants cleverly arranged in wide rows.

Paul and Jessica climb up the rocks. Jessica cries out in horror. The worm’s whistle is deafening.

EXTERIOR:
ROCK LEDGE - NIGHT.

There is a crack in the ledge. Jessica and Paul enter it, pressed against each other.

The open mouth of the worm emerges in front of them. An enormous hole with teeth gleaming in the light of the two moons. The mouth looks around, sways, closes, opens, moves forward and then backwards.

Jessica’s and Paul’s hearts are beating rapidly. Their breathing is irregular. They stop their hearts and cease breathing. Only the deep breath of the searching monster can be heard.

In the distance, another... boom... boom... rings out very loudly. The monster disappears.

Paul leans out, Jessica comes closer to him. Paul drinks a mouthful of water from his appliance. This time Jessica takes a long drink with pleasure.

JESSICA:

Another...

PAUL:

The Fremen...

JESSICA:

They have come to help us.

PAUL:

They don’t know were here. They’re calling the worm for something else...

JESSICA:

Do you think they can …

PAUL:

Communicate with the worms? Maybe...

Paul and Jessica gather up their possessions and continue trying to climb the rocks. Jessica shows Paul some steps cut into the rocks.

EXTERIOR:
STEPS CUT INTO THE ROCKS - NIGHT.

Paul and Jessica climb the perfectly cut steps. They come out on to a pass. They walk a few yards. The pass opens on to a ravine.

EXTERIOR:
RAVINE GARDEN - NIGHT.

The ravine is filled with bushes, cactuses, grass, flowers, and fruit trees. It’s a wonderful garden, with a fine geometrical layout. From the pass above, Jessica and Paul look with wonder at the beauty of this place.

A stairway connects the pass to the garden. Paul and Jessica take it and walk down. In the garden, they breathe the smell of the flowers, and eat the fruit. Then they blow up the inflatable tent.

PAUL:

Let’s sleep here. We’ll meet the Fremen tomorrow.

Voice of STILGAR:

Intruders have always regretted meeting the Fremen.

Voice of JAMIS:

Hurry up, Stilgar. Soon it will be dawn. Extract their water and we’ll go.

JESSICA:

(to Paul)

How many are there?

Paul listens carefully in all directions, receiving and hearing the imperceptible breathing of the hidden Fremen.

PAUL:

(to Jessica)

Forty.

A big fremen lets himself fall down from the top of a tree and drops motionless a few steps away from Jessica and Paul, who, strategically, moves away from his mother.

Two knives are planted at the feet of Jessica and Paul.

STILGAR:

(arrogantly)

Such is the law of the desert. You can take your lives yourselves, with dignity; otherwise, I’ll have to kill you.

JESSICA:

(arrogantly)

Who comes out of the night like this? Like a common murderer?

STILGAR:

Stilgar. Head of his tribe.

PAUL:

I know you. You were at my father’s party.

STILGAR:

The Duke’s son! We’ve received a message from Kynes about you. He believes you are Lisan Al Gaib. You have conquered the desert; you can join us. But the woman...

A VOICE:

Don’t waste time, Stilgar. Carry out the law!

STILGAR:

Woman, take this knife and cut your jugular vein with it. A single clean cut will be enough. Understand us. You know nothing of the desert. One mistake by you and the whole tribe would be lost. Your water belongs to us by right.

Jessica goes to take the knife... pretends to trip... and attacks Stilgar who, taken by surprise, draws his Krys. Jessica dodges the blow, hits him, presses a nerve center on his neck and leans with her back on a rock using Stilgar, now immobilized, as a shield. Paul runs towards the trees. Jamis, a bearded fremen, attacks him with his gun. Paul hits him in the chest, leaps aside and knocks Jamis out with the side of the hand on his neck. The fremen loses consciousness. Paul and Jessica have used the voice to partially immobilize the Fremen.

Paul picks up the arm and begins to climb the rocky wall. Shots break out around him. He shelters behind a ledge from which he can cover and defend Jessica.

STILGAR:

Stop! She’s cutting my neck!

JESSICA:

Don’t chase after my son!

STILGAR:

Leave the child!

JESSICA:

Come out, everyone! I know there are forty of you.

A group of Fremen comes out from the cover of the trees. They stop in front of Jessica.

PAUL:

Careful. There are only thirty-nine. One’s missing.

Voice of CHANI:

I’m here.

Chani comes out from behind a rock. Paul is on the end of her gun. Chani is fourteen years old.

STILGAR:

Leave him, Chani.

JESSICA:

You can come down, Paul.

Paul and Chani lower the arms with which they were threatening each other. The look at each other, and like each other.

PAUL:

I have dreamed about you, Chani.

Chani takes off her turban, freeing long and beautiful hair which is red instead of brown.

CHANI:

I’m Pardot Kynes’ daughter.

They come down. Chani goes back to the group of Fremen and Paul goes and stands near his mother and Stilgar. The Fremen bring Jamis out of unconsciousness and hold him up so that he can listen to Jessica.

JESSICA:

I taught my son to fight. We have beaten two armed Fremen.

STILGAR:

It’s a considerable measure of power. If you have been able to finish me off, this strange art can help you defeat all the others.

JESSICA:

And what if I teach you this strange art?

STILGAR:

We’ll accept you into our group.

JESSICA:

How do I know you’re not lying?

STILGAR:

Here we have no contracts and no papers. We don’t forget promises made at night, when dawn is up. My word is that of my people. Teach us the strange art and your water shall mingle with ours.

JESSICA:

The Harkonnens will ask a reward for us.

STILGAR:

Your art is worth more than all the Harkonnens’ money.

Jessica cautiously frees Stilgar. She and Paul draw closer to each other in the event of a betrayal.

A fremen hands two green crape handkerchiefs to Stilgar. They all wear these handkerchiefs around their necks. Stilgar rolls them between his fingers and knots them around Jessica’s and Paul’s necks.

STILGAR:

Now you belong to Stilgar’s sietch (to Chani). Attend to the child-man.

PAUL:

My name is Paul.

STILGAR:

If you want to be a true fremen, Paul must die. Soon we shall give you a new name (to Jamis) Jamis, can you walk?

JAMIS:

(grunting)

Of course I can.

STILGAR:

I’ll attend to the woman (naming two men) follow us and erase the footsteps! The two newcomers haven’t been told. Get into line.

Like an army, the Fremen get into line.

CHANI:

(to Paul)

Watch where you put your feet, don’t touch the bushes, don’t break a single leaf, and leave no footsteps. We should arrive at the Sietch before daylight.

They all set off marching.

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